BANANA CULTUBE IX HAWAII 17 
of the field without washing the soil. Drainage ditches should also 
be provided to prevent the water from accumulating. Newly set 
fields require a light irrigation about once a week. The water should 
be admitted to ditches made between the rows when the plant- are 
well established. Thus centered the ditches will provide a more sub- 
stantial feeding system for the roots and lessen the tendency of the 
plant to produce suckers. After reaching the age of fruitfulness a 
field of Chinese bananas normally requires a thorough watering about 
every 15 days during the months of insufficient rain. 
Good drainage is absolutely necessary for the production of first- 
class fruit. It is just as important to maintain adequate drainage 
as to have efficient irrigation, and more harm is done by having too 
much water than by not having enough. Too much water causes 
water-logging and soil acidity. Deep rather than shallow drainage 
ditches are most satisfactory. 
WINDBREAKS 
Banana plants grow best in localities having little or no wind. 
The gentler trade winds are not to be feared, but continuous high 
winds whip the young leaves into ribbons and prevent normal 
growth. The plants, especially such as are weighted with fruit, 
may be blown down by unusually high winds, which, fortunately, 
seldom occur in these islands. Some varieties like the low and 
stocky Cavendish withstand heavy wind better than others. Of the 
taller growing varieties, the Brazilian has been found to be best 
adapted to windy exposures in the Hawaiian Islands. 
The local banana industry has not yet grown to proportions mak- 
ing it necessary to utilize all sheltered lands suitable for banana 
growing. Only such lands have been used as are naturally pro- 
tected from the prevailing northeast trade winds. Some of the 
windy localities probably could be utilized for banana culture by 
growing windbreaks on the windward side of the field, or on a 
surrounding area of 5 to 10 acres, as the situation requires. Several 
rows of the Brazilian banana might be utilized for the purpose. 
The panax (Nothopanax guilfoylia) which grows upright to a 
height of 15 feet, makes a good windbreak. More permanent wind- 
breaks may be obtained by planting such rapidly growing trees as 
the ironwood (Casuarina equisiti folia) and eucalyptus {Eucalyptus 
vobusta) alternately in rows 10 feet apart and of the same distance 
apart in the row. The mango (Mangifera indica) also withstands 
high winds and, on account of its dense top, makes an excellent 
windbreak. Grafted mango trees have the additional value of pro- 
ducing good fruit in season. 
The windbreak trees may be set in three rows 10 feet apart in 
alternate form with the same distance between trees in the row. 
The row nearest to the prevailing wind should consist of eucalyptus 
trees, which make tall, slim growth; the central row should be made 
up of two kinds of trees, eucalyptus and grafted mango arranged 
alternately in the row: and the row adjoining the field of bananas 
should consist entirely of ironwood. The horizontal roots of these 
11862°— 26 3 
